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“I wanted to see firsthand the devastation,” Meadows told the farmers. “We want to make a difference.”

Thanks to record rainfall this season, many farmers are looking at a low or no yield. Nearly twice as much rain as normal has fallen so far this year.

“We’ve reached out to different agencies,” Meadows said about finding low-cost loans, different forms of crop insurance and federal relief.

Meadows said it's not about the large conglomerates producing crops in his district.

“We have such a rich tradition in family farmers,” he said. “We need programs that make a difference at home.”

Meadows looked at destroyed stalks that were about a foot tall.

“They are normally this high,” said Kirby Johnson, holding his hand up to about four or five feet. Johnson is co-owner of Mountain Bean Growers off Banner Farm Road.

“If this weather continues, we will lose more,” he added.

At another field, Randy Edmunson pointed to his 88 acres of various crops. It looked more like a desert than a lush field of produce. Edmunson lost 77 acres of his commodities at that particular field.

“I don’t know what to do,” Edmunson said, with tears building up in his eyes. “But when you are at the bottom, there is nowhere else to go but up.”

<p>MILLS RIVER — Congressman Mark Meadows stood in a decimated field of sweet corn with local farmers Friday during a half-day tour of flood-damaged crops in Henderson County.</p><p>“I wanted to see firsthand the devastation,” Meadows told the farmers. “We want to make a difference.”</p><p>Thanks to record rainfall this season, many farmers are looking at a low or no yield. Nearly twice as much rain as normal has fallen so far this year.</p><p>“We've reached out to different agencies,” Meadows said about finding low-cost loans, different forms of crop insurance and federal relief.</p><p>Meadows said it's not about the large conglomerates producing crops in his district.</p><p>“We have such a rich tradition in family farmers,” he said. “We need programs that make a difference at home.”</p><p>Meadows looked at destroyed stalks that were about a foot tall.</p><p>“They are normally this high,” said Kirby Johnson, holding his hand up to about four or five feet. Johnson is co-owner of Mountain Bean Growers off Banner Farm Road.</p><p>“If this weather continues, we will lose more,” he added.</p><p>At another field, Randy Edmunson pointed to his 88 acres of various crops. It looked more like a desert than a lush field of produce. Edmunson lost 77 acres of his commodities at that particular field.</p><p>“I don't know what to do,” Edmunson said, with tears building up in his eyes. “But when you are at the bottom, there is nowhere else to go but up.”</p><p>Meadows reassured Edmunson with a pat on the back.</p><p>“We will do all we can," he said. </p><p></p><p>Reach Schulman at 828-694-7890 or mark.schulman@blueridgenow.com</p>